Vance Metal Fabricators v. Carl E. Widell & Son

[50 A.D.2d 1062 Page 1062] Order unanimously affirmed, with costs. Memorandum: In this action for reformation of a contract and award of money damages, tried without a jury, defendant appeals from an order and judgment granting reformation. Defendant, in urging reversal, contends that the trial court, by reason of verbiage contained in its memorandum decision, failed to apply the requisite standard of proof to warrant reformation relief, and that the evidence adduced failed to meet such applicable standard. Before a party can be granted reformation, he must establish his right to such relief by clear, positive and convincing evidence. Reformation may not be granted upon a probability nor even upon a mere preponderance of evidence, but only upon a certainty of error. (Amend v Hurley, 293 NY 587, 595; see also, Nash v Kornblum, 12 N.Y.2d 42, 46; Ross v Food Specialties, 6 N.Y.2d 336, 341.) The Court of Appeals in Southard v Curley (134 NY 148), in considering the standard of proof in an action for reformation, rejected the criterion of beyond a reasonable doubt applicable to a criminal proceeding; and, after reviewing authorities on the subject, stated that there is a universal agreement that a contract shall not be reformed on loose, contradictory and unsatisfactory evidence; a settled determination that when a mistake is alleged, it must be clearly established by satisfactory proofs or the contract will stand as made (Southard v Curley, supra, p 154). It would, therefore, appear that the burden of proof upon a party seeking reformation lies between mere preponderance of the evidence and evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, characterized as clear and convincing evidence. The instant record amply sustains such proof. Nor does the trial court's recitation in its memorandum decision of the phrase fair preponderance of the credible evidence, standing alone, impair its determination or ascribe use of a standard of proof less than required, since the complete context of the memorandum reflects that the trial court was convinced that the terms of the negotiated agreement were not expressed in the parties' ultimate written agreement. In addition, it would appear implicit from the citation by the trial court of Nash v Kornblum (12 N.Y.2d 42) and Fitzgerald v Arcade Theater Co. (153 NYS 618), which cases involved the instant issue of requisite proof in an action for reformation, that cognizance [50 A.D.2d 1062 Page 1063]